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https://hdl.handle.net/2440/85856
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Type: | Journal article |
Title: | Opportunities for genetic improvement of lamb survival |
Author: | Brien, F. Herbart, M. Smith, D. Hocking Edwards, J. Greeff, J. Hart, K. Refshauge, G. Bird-Gardiner, T. Gaunt, G. Behrendt, R. Robertson, M. Hinch, G. Geenty, K. Van Der Werf, J. |
Citation: | Animal Production Science, 2010; 50(12):1017-1025 |
Publisher: | CSIRO Publishing |
Issue Date: | 2010 |
ISSN: | 1836-5787 1836-0939 |
Statement of Responsibility: | F. D. Brien, M. L. Hebart, D. H. Smith, J. E. Hocking Edwards, J. C. Greeff, K. W. Hart, G. Refshauge, T. L. Bird-Gardiner, G. Gaunt, R. Behrendt, M. W. Robertson, G. N. Hinch, K. G. Geenty and J. H. J. van der Werf |
Abstract: | Data on lamb survival and associated traits involving records from 15 192 lambs, 6308 dams and 284 sires from the Sheep CRC’s Information Nucleus were studied. Lamb survival to 3 days of age and to weaning was 85 and 80%, respectively, and heritability (±s.e.) was 0.014 ± 0.010 and 0.010 ± 0.010, respectively. Of the 14 traits recorded at birth, time taken for the lamb to bleat, rectal temperature and crown–rump length had the highest genetic correlations with lamb survival to weaning (–0.43 ± 0.32, 0.56 ± 0.33 and –0.38 ± 0.36, respectively). Under selection for a multi-trait objective including net reproduction rate (but not lamb survival), survival was predicted to decline genetically by 0.25 lambs weaned per 100 lambs born.year, although this was reversed to a gain of 0.20 lambs weaned per 100 lambs born.year by including the trait in the breeding objective and using 50 half-sib and 50 progeny records per selection candidate. Accuracy of selection for lamb survival was improved to 0.735 with a selection index of lamb survival to weaning, lamb ease, birth coat score, time taken to bleat, rectal temperature and crown–rump length, with the addition of 50 half-sibs and 50 progeny records per candidate. Our results suggest that unless actively incorporated into breeding objectives, lamb survival may genetically decline; however, gains are possible with direct selection using half-sib and progeny records. The addition of indirect selection criteria for lamb survival can further improve accuracy, up to 93.4%, but requires further investigation. |
Rights: | © CSIRO 2010 |
DOI: | 10.1071/AN10121 |
Published version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an10121 |
Appears in Collections: | Animal and Veterinary Sciences publications Aurora harvest 2 |
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